đ Programming note: A quick update on what to expect from WTFJHT as we head into the holidays... Iâll be publishing Monday, Dec. 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 30, before returning to my regular MondayâThursday schedule on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. As always, if something truly WTF-y happens, Iâll be here. Otherwise, this is a short pause to recharge and spend some time with family. Thanks for reading, sharing, and supporting this project. It means a lot and Iâm glad youâre here. -MATT
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matt@whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com
A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
Day 411: There is no chaos.
1/ Trumpâs personal attorney received leaked witness testimony from within the House Intelligence Committee. The lawyer representing Michael Cohen contacted the lawyer of a former John McCain staffer after someone from the House Committee told Cohenâs lawyer that the former staffer had information about the Steele dossier that could help Cohen. The information came from closed-door, committee-sensitive testimony. The dossier alleges that Cohen met with Kremlin officials, which Cohen denies. The conversation was reported to the House Intelligence Committee. Robert Mueller, meanwhile, has requested documents and interviewed witnesses about two or more episodes involving Russian interests and Cohenâs involvement. (The Daily Beast / Washington Post)
2/ Gary Cohn will resign over Trumpâs plan to impose large tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, although officials insist there was no single factor behind the departure. Trumpâs top economic advisor had been working to stop the tariffs that threaten to cause a global trade war, which Paul Ryan said he was âextremely worried about.â Cohn is expected to leave in the coming weeks. (New York Times)
3/ Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act on two occasions, the Office of Special Counsel said as it referred its findings to Trump âfor appropriate disciplinary action.â In her official capacity, Conway endorsed and advocated against political candidates during two television appearances in 2017. The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from engaging in political activities. The OSC is not affiliated with special counsel Robert Muellerâs Russia investigation. (The Hill / ABC News)
4/ Trump tweets âthere is no chaosâ in the White House, but there are âsome people that I want to changeâ because he is âalways seeking perfection.â The tweet comes a week after Trump called Jeff Sessions âdisgraceful,â Hope Hicks resigned, and Jared Kushnerâs security clearance was downgraded. (Washington Post / CNBC)
The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House. Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision. I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2018
5/ Sam Nunberg says heâll probably cooperate with Robert Muellerâs subpoena after all. Yesterday, the former Trump aide appeared on multiple cable news programs to announce his plans to defy the special prosecutorâs demands. Nunberg conceded that heâll likely find a way to comply with the requests for testimony and documents. âIâm going to end up cooperating with them,â Nunberg said. (Associated Press / Axios)
6/ The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee wants to interview Nunberg as part of its Russia investigation. Adam Schiff said Nunbergâs assertion that Trump knew about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting before it occurred is an area that the committee needs to explore. Nunberg said he would be willing to testify. âI would go there, sure.â (CNN / The Hill)
7/ Kim Jong-un may be willing to negotiate with the U.S. on abandoning its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees, according to South Korean president Moon Jae-in. North Korea would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while the negotiations are in progress. Itâs the first time North Korea has indicated that itâs willing to negotiate away its nuclear weapons. Trump tweeted: âWe will see what happens!â Later, Trump attributed the progress to his administrationâs sanctions against North Korea, but warned that he is âprepared to go whichever path is necessary.â (New York Times / Politico)
We will see what happens! https://t.co/Y1qxoAUfd9
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2018
8/ The Trump administration will allow hunters to import elephant trophies on a âcase-by-caseâ basis, breaking Trumpâs earlier pledge to maintain the Obama-era protections. The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a memorandum last week withdrawing its 2007 Endangered Species Act findings for elephants from Zimbabwe and Zambia, saying that âthe findings are no longer effective for making individual permit determinations for imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies.â Trump previously called trophy hunting a âhorror show.â (The Hill)
Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of Elephants or any other animal.
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
9/ A White House report shows that the benefits from âmajorâ federal regulations between 2006 and 2016 outweighed the costs. The Office of Management and Budget report, released late last Friday, estimates that the aggregate annual benefit from the Obama-era regulations was between $287 and $911 billion, while the estimated aggregate annual costs were between $78 and $115 billion, as reported in 2015 dollars. The regulations offered a net benefit of up to $833 billion. (Vox)
poll/ 64% of American disagree with Trumpâs stance that a trade war would be good for the U.S. and easy to win. 28% said they agreed with Trumpâs position. (Quinnipiac)
Notables.
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Michael Flynn is selling his house to pay his legal bills after pleading guilty last year to lying to the FBI. The house went on the market in December and is listed at $895,000. Flynnâs brother, Joe, says Flynn will use the money to pay for his legal defense. (ABC News)
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House Democrats are calling for an ethics investigation into the practice of lawmakers sleeping in their offices. They argue itâs an abuse of taxpayer funds. (Politico)
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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry resigned after pleading guilty to felony theft of more than $10,000 related to her affair with her former police bodyguard. Barry agreed to reimburse the city. (The Tennessean)
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West Virginia lawmakers reached a deal intended to end a teachersâ strike by raising their pay by 5%. The strike has canceled nine consecutive school days across the state. (CNN)
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The 2018 congressional midterms begin today in Texas. These are the four most important races and six storylines to watch.
A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
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